How Ettinger Supplies the Finest Leather Goods from a Workshop in Walsall
Gerry Ettinger founded his leather goods company in London in 1934, initially producing wallets, billfolds, and small leather accessories for the British market. The firm remained modest in scale for decades, building a reputation among a discerning clientele who valued the quality of its materials and the precision of its construction without the visibility of larger luxury brands.
In the 1990s, Robert Ettinger, Gerry's son, relocated production to Walsall in the West Midlands, a town with a leather-working heritage stretching back to medieval saddlery. The Walsall workshop employs skilled craftspeople who cut, stitch, and finish each piece by hand, using techniques that have changed little in a century. The firm produces approximately 60,000 pieces annually (https://www.ettinger.co.uk).
Ettinger holds a Royal Warrant from King Charles III, who has been a personal customer for decades. The Prince's preference for Ettinger's sterling collection, featuring purple leather lining, led the firm to develop its signature combination of black bridle leather exteriors with purple interiors, a colour combination that has become unmistakably Ettinger.
The bridle leather used in Ettinger's core collection is tanned by J. & E. Sedgwick in Walsall using traditional methods involving waxes and tallows worked into the hide over several weeks. The resulting leather is dense, durable, and develops a rich patina with use. It is substantially heavier and more robust than the softer leathers used by many Italian luxury goods houses.
Ettinger's product range extends beyond wallets to include card cases, key fobs, travel accessories, and writing folios. Each piece is designed with a focus on slim proportions, as Ettinger believes that a wallet should slip into a pocket without creating bulk. The firm's zip-around travel wallet, capable of holding passport, cards, and currency, is a particular favourite among frequent travellers.
Compared to Continental luxury leather goods from Hermes, Louis Vuitton, or Bottega Veneta, Ettinger occupies a different register: understated British craftsmanship at a price that reflects honest material and labour costs rather than brand mythology. An Ettinger wallet costs a fraction of a comparable Hermes piece while offering comparable material quality and construction.
For the man seeking a wallet, card case, or travel accessory that prioritises craft over logo, Ettinger is an essential discovery. The sterling collection's black-and-purple combination is distinctive without being flashy, and the bridle leather will age beautifully over years of daily use. It is quintessentially British: restrained, well-made, and quietly confident.
